I've been wishing...

Or window shopping online. It's so much fun to look and plan for things to build, make or plant at Mecham Manor. Also shoes. 

We went to a tulip festival in Oregon a couple years ago, and I looked at bulbs we can buy online from them. They're amazing! 

I'm obsessed with these multi-colored ones, especially the pink & peach combinations. 

Then there are the trumpet, or fluted tulips. I like the unique shape. 

Here are some with feathered petals. 

I want to plant some perrienials, these are some drought resistantant flowers, they'd be fun to put out in the front yard. 

On to trees, we'd like a flowering tree in the front, and a fruit tree out in the back yard. We've decided a semi-dwarf peach tree for the back yard, as well as lilacs along the back fence. 

Someday, our home will be surrounded by beautiful flowers, it will be amazing. 

Pinterest, a frenemy. So many things I want to build for our home, it's so hard to chose! 

For the living room. 

A storage/ platform bed. 

A sweet desk, or 

Build this into the family room including a desk. 

I'd love to do a cool Murphy bed for the office. 

This one is amazing it could double as a table! 

This is a cool pull down table for the garage. And the hanging tool storage next to it makes me happy. 

This would be great in our laundry room, and it's cute!! 

Now shoes, I could shop for shoes all day. Much easier than clothes shopping. 

Slip on shoes, a must for preschool. 

Cute boots, and no small obsession of mine. 

Dress shoes, now that I don't have access to my Mom's cute heals, I need to find some of my own. And I wear flats for church and work. 

Piano and pups

Just before Mom & Dad left town for Arkansas we acquired a piano. Thanks to dad, we were put in touch with a guy getting rid of a kimball upright grand. It's old, but beautiful. He gave it to us for free, and instead of paying to move it, dad rounded up a few guys and by the time I got home from work they were on the way with the piano. 

This part was scary to watch. 

They were able to move it up the driveway so fast, I almost missed grabbing this picture. 

I opened it up once the piano made it inside. 

The piano in its new home. 

Pups: we dog sat for my parents while they travelled to see my out of town siblings (Idaho, then Arkansas) it was so hot the dogs came and hung out with us. 

All 3 dogs enjoying the freshly mown grass. Also a great pic to show their size difference. 

It was hot, so we had a pool out back for water and for cooling down. (Tonka cooling his pads)

Tbone got bored outside one day and chewed up the pool.

Rylee, Tbone & I took walks almost every morning. I tried to go at least 2 miles to wear Tbone out. 

The dogs spent a lot of time inside to escape the heat. So sometimes we have them bones to chew and keep busy. 

Rylee asserted his dominance by confiscating the big bone from Tonka. The bone was bigger than he was. 

Tbone was my tracing companion, inside or outside he watched over me as I did my temple tracing at the sliding door. 

Our sleeping arrangement. Big dogs on the floor, and Rylee in his kennel. 

One night I said time for bed, Rylee jumped up, grabbed Tonka's bone, and took it into his kennel. Haha 

On one of our many walks, one man crossed the street to get away from us. I got lots of funny looks, probably because of the size difference. 

One day we couldn't find Tbone, until I went to the bathroom. 

He looks so guilty here. 

I sent this pic to my mom while they were gone, Tbone jumped on the couch trying to snuggle Joseph (NO NO!) so instead I joined him on the floor, he head butted me and almost smashed me with his version of cuddling. It was a little crazy having 3 dogs at the house for 3 weeks. I'm just happy I documented it.

Yo ho yo ho a pirates life for me

The Lady Washington, a tall ship came to  Pasco! This ship was used in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It was open for tours so I went with my friend Michelle and kids, it was awesome. Hot, but so worth it, I just wish that Joseph could have come too.

A small working cannon. 

A huge compass

The view from the front. 

The lady... 

Little Gman, my partner in crime liked this anchor 

The back of the ship, when I recognized it as the interceptor in pirates. 

Temple Paintings

I fell in love with watercolor temple paintings that I'd seen on Pinterest. Then I thought, I can do that. So I did, my first painting was a house warming gift for Sam & Kaelee. 

My process: find pics of temple, print one for reference, trace outline. Using multiple pics for each temple I chose what details to include and what to keep simple. Then sketch a floral wreath around the temple drawing, ink the temple, color the flowers with watercolor pencils, then paint over. 

Then I selling custom temple paintings for other people... Here are some of the temples I've done. 

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Portland, Oregon 

Columbia River, Washington 

Logan, Utah

Sketch-->inked--> painted

Custom order with hot pink Gerbera Daisies 

SLC step by step

Salt Lake City, Utah 

Rexburg, Idaho

In the painting zone. 

Mom & dad's Seattle Washington temple. 

I've loved creating these!